Handmade Hot Cocoa (6 Variations)

Calling all chocoholics! Why choose commercial hot chocolate powders full of preservatives when you could make a better tasting and better-for-you recipe like this?

Makes 1 serving

What you need:

2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tbsp sugar (or substitute a smaller amount of honey)
1 cup milk (skim, 1% or 2% milk; alternatively soy milk, almond milk or rice milk)

How you prepare:

Whisk together the cocoa powder, sugar and a few tablespoons of the milk until it is dissolved (note this step is important before adding the rest of the milk to prevent lumps).  Add the rest of the milk and heat.

5 other additions for adventuresome palates:

• Vanilla velvet
  Add 1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract

• Spiced-up
  Add a pinch of cinnamon, a cinnamon stick or alternatively gingerbread spice

• Hot stuff
  Add a pinch of allspice, nutmeg and ground ancho chilies

• Salty-sweet
  Add a pinch of flaky sea salt

• Go nuts
  Add a tablespoon of peanut butter or almond butter and use a hand-held emersion blender or mini milk frother to blend.

Per serving

(original recipe made with 1% milk)

Calories  175
Carbohydrates  31 g
Protein  10  g
Fat  3.8 g
Dietary Fiber 3.6 g

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